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Re: Bumblebee nest material

I collected some wads of dryer lint from when we dry the cotton towels and blankets and wool stuff (without fabric softener). Looks a lot like mouse nest fluff, and has no smell I can discern. My cat is shedding, so I'm also collecting her fur from the brush. And I'll let it all air out before I put it in the boxes.

Next time I go to the big pet store for cat food, I'm going to bring a zip lock bag and ask for a few handfuls of well used mouse tank bedding shavings.

The little bee returns with evening's gloom,
To join her comrades in the braided hive... -Tennyson

Re: Bumblebee nest material

I have had the bumbles build nests in rolls of used landscape fabric sitting in my shed. Also have seen nests in straw-especially small pieces and chaff from bale of straw that was in a small lean too makeshift green house I had, the glass above the nest kept it dry and they were quite happy there.
I agree with mouse nest sites being the most popular.

Re: Bumblebee nest material

Mouse nests are ideal. The smell of mouse urine attracts some species of bumble bees. However, with concerns about some of the diseases being transmitted through mouse excretia. . . well, I often recommend getting some of the used mouse bedding from pet stores or domesticated mouse owners.

Old car seat "stuffing" seems to be another favorite. If you can find a place with some scrapped cars, you may be able to scavage some of the material from seats split open.

Of course, if you find an old car seat with a mouse nest in it, you may have found the holy grail for bumble bee nest material.

Re: Bumblebee nest material

I put out my two bumble boxes, half-burying them in mulch and then heaping some pine mulch around them just leaving the roofs and the entrace hole exposed.
I had gathered plenty of raw dryer lint (no fabric softener) and mixed it up with cat fur from my cat brush.
We'll see if I get lucky.

The little bee returns with evening's gloom,
To join her comrades in the braided hive... -Tennyson

Re: Bumblebee nest material

Originally Posted by Omie

I put out my two bumble boxes, half-burying them in mulch and then heaping some pine mulch around them just leaving the roofs and the entrace hole exposed.
I had gathered plenty of raw dryer lint (no fabric softener) and mixed it up with cat fur from my cat brush.
We'll see if I get lucky.

It's all about luck. I have set up BB bee hives for many years and have only gotten a couple queens to nest. As Kieck and others have said, upholstery cotton and mouse smell seems to do the trick. The pet store is usually open to giving you a handful of used mouse nest chips and you spread that under the cotton and the smell attracts the spring Queens looking for a nice spot to take up residence. If all else fails capture a queen very early in the spring and seal her in the nest box for a few days. Include a small amount of honey and water in some foil away from the nest material and see if she accepts the new home. After a few days open the entrance so she can come and go. She'll either bail or if your lucky she'll stay. If she starts a honey pot it's almost certain she'll stay as she has become "broody" and considers this her home now. Another trick that seems to work better than nesting boxes is setting up several nesting area's under a sheet of plywood. In a dry area lay a couple 2X4's on the ground along with several prepared nest of upholstery cotton, dry grass and mouse chips. Cover with a sheet of plywood and check back after a couple weeks. You may get a nest of BB bees, or you may have a nest of mice move in LOL.